Rudy: "If you're willing to fight the throngs of tourists, there's a
magnificent show underway in the nation's capital right now: the
annual blossoming of the cherry trees that line the Tidal Basin near
the Jefferson Memorial. The cherry blossoms bring more tourists into
Washington than any other annual event. Here with details is Michelle
Kholos with this week's Culture Watch."

Michelle: "Rudy, I know that you've enjoyed the cherry blossoms for
years, but do you know the history of the trees?"

Rudy: "They were a gift from Japan."

Michelle: "They were. Tokyo's Mayor presented Washington with 3,000
trees in 1912 as a token of national friendship between the two
countries. But actually, it took a quarter-century of relentless
crusading by a woman named Mrs. Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore. Upon
returning to Washington from her first visit to Japan in 1885, Mrs.
Scidmore approached the Superintendent of Public Buildings and
Grounds with the proposal that cherry trees be planted along the
soon-to-be reclaimed Potomac waterfront. But her request fell on deaf
ears."

Rudy: "But we have the trees now? What happened?"

Michelle: "After 24 years of unsuccessful campaigning, Mrs. Scidmore
decided to raise the money to buy the trees herself. She sent a
letter off to the new First Lady, Helen Taft, explaining her plans.
Mrs. Taft, who herself had lived in Japan for a time, loved the idea
and saw that it got done. Of course, there were other problems. The
first trees sent over were infested with insects, Nematodes and other
diseases, but once that was taken care of the trees were planted and
generations of Americans have enjoyed their blossoms every spring."

Rudy: "There's also the parade."

Michelle: "Yes. This year it's Saturday the 8th of April. There will
be lavish floats from across the country, gigantic helium balloons,
international performance groups and some of the country's finest
marching bands."